Community forestry to enhance conservation and restoration of mangroves for resilient coastal livelihoods

Mangroves play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by storing carbon and supporting terrestrial and marine biodiversity in tropical regions. These saltwater forests are critical for climate resilience, protecting around 3.5 million people living in coastal areas from storm surges, flooding, and sea-level rise. However, they are vanishing at an alarming rate: around one-third of mangrove forests were lost before 2000, and a further 3.4% decline occurred between 1996 and 2020 due to human activities and climate change. Their decline threatens traditional livelihoods, food security, and overall health of the ocean.

Dr. Valerie Hagger began her AXA Fellowship at the University of Queensland which began in January 2023. She has been investigating how community- and Indigenous-based management (often called community forestry) can enhance mangrove conservation and restoration globally. Her research focuses on countries with diverse socio-economic contexts, such as Australia, Madagascar, and Kenya, aiming to reverse the ongoing decline of mangroves and bolster the resilience of coastal populations.

A comprehensive global meta-analysis examining 118 case studies across 30 mangrove-holding nations revealed critical factors driving successful community- and Indigenous-based mangrove management. Dr. Hagger facilitated numerous workshops and meetings with international experts and stakeholders to inform this research. Her work included a pivotal study with the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, which represents nine Traditional Owner groups in northern Australia's coastal region. This corporation maintains an agreement with government authorities for managing coastal and marine resources within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Through interviews with Traditional Owner representatives, Dr. Hagger identified opportunities for Indigenous-led coastal wetland restoration in the Girringun region while documenting the benefits and challenges of their co-management agreement. Her research provided valuable insights into Indigenous governance of coastal ecosystems and highlighted sustainable management practices.

In her 2024 paper published in the Journal of Environmental Management, Dr. Hagger identifies prime wetland restoration sites in Australia, analyzing their carbon sequestration potential – known as “blue carbon”. Cost-benefit analysis suggested carbon price was high for land currently used for beef production, but that combining carbon credits with other factors including biodiversity and local fisheries could help achieve better incentives. Moreover, Traditional Custodians expressed interest in leading projects, highlighting the importance of Indigenous leadership and collaboration in blue carbon initiatives. In her 2025 paper, she develops an approach to assess biodiversity benefits specifically for coastal wetland restoration that will inform policy for biodiversity certification under emerging nature markets.

Dr. Hagger’s research has earned her international recognition. She was a key author of a Best Practice Guideline for Mangrove Restoration and a keynote presenter at the International Mangrove Conservation & Restoration Conference. As her research demonstrates, empowering local and Indigenous communities while integrating economic incentives like blue carbon markets is key to reversing mangrove loss. With continued collaboration these vital ecosystems could be restored, ensuring coastal resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and climate mitigation.

May 2025

Related links:

• Publication (2022): Drivers of global mangrove loss and gain in social-ecological systems | Nature Communications

• Podcast: La sylviculture communautaire pour renforcer la conservation et la restauration des mangroves afin d'améliorer la résilience des moyens de subsistance sur les côtes. Décennie de l'Océan

• Summary video: Valerie Hagger: Mangrove Community Forestry | AXA Research Fund

• Article: Mangrove community forestry for resilient coastal livelihoods - Ocean Decade

• Webinar: The Mangrove Alliance